Artist's work to show winter's promise at Orange Art Gallery in January

Posted Jan 5, 2012 By Kristy Wallace

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EMC news - Winter is a time of reflection and contemplation, for Crystal Beshara, while spring is a time to act.

Her outlook on the quiet winter months will be present in her work set to be displayed at the Winter's Promise Show at Orange Art Gallery in Hintonburg from Jan. 5 to 22.

"In this particular series, it has to do with the quiet period in winter when we're hibernating under a white blanket," said Beshara. "It's the idea that winter has a promise of re-birth and renewal in the spring, when there's hope and we're starting fresh."

Beshara's work will feature a series of oil paintings, showing rural scenes from Stittsville to Vars.

All of her scenes, which include cattle, barns and fields, are set within a 45-minute drive of Ottawa. She said the work has a contemporary spin on it, with subjects being isolated and featuring abstract backgrounds.

Beshara said it was important for her to have local scenes as part of her art work.

"I think as far as Ottawa goes, it's a city that has such diversity in terms of offering a very rural feel in a small area," she said. "We've got lovely pockets where people can ski or snowshoe, and you feel like you're in an undeveloped area. We don't have some kind of concrete jungle. A lot of people appreciate that, and I think that's what makes Ottawa pretty special."

Beshara, who grew up on a farm, said her paintings come from photographs she takes in rural settings and paints from the image she captured.

"I'm a realist painter, and it's important for me to have a good sense of the subject and accuracy," she said. "I go out with my camera, and pick my favourite story to tell."

Beshara said she also titled her pieces so they sound very basic, and leave it up to her audience to interpret. She wants her audience's minds to wander.

"I'm not interested in painting a pretty picture," she said. "The narrative is important. There are emotional stories behind the pieces."

There's often the idea that realism or painting rural subject matter is more traditional, she said, but there's a way to make this type of work contemporary and relevant to what's going on in the world.

Beshara said she wants to create work that is not benign or mundane, but rather thought-provoking.

For more information on Orange Art Gallery and upcoming exhibits, visit the website at www.orangeartgallery.ca

For more information on Beshara, visit her website at www.crystalbeshara.com




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